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how many tennis balls fit in a limo: Interview Question: “How Many Tennis Balls Fit in a Limo?”
Question
Introduction
This interview question was not asked at a traditional interview. It was asked to two of the candidates that were accepted for an internship position in the IT department. The interviewer asked them how many tennis balls fit in a limo, then she walked away without answering the question. The candidate who said “1,000” was hired and another candidate who said “2” was not hired. She wanted to see how these applicants worked under pressure, why they gave certain answers and if they could think on their feet.
This interview question was not asked at a traditional interview. It was asked to two of the candidates that were accepted for an internship position in the IT department.
This interview question was not asked at a traditional interview. It was asked to two of the candidates that were accepted for an internship position in the IT department. The interviewer was a woman, who was also head of the IT department. She wanted to know if you could think on your feet and come up with creative solutions when presented with an unusual problem or situation.
The question went something like this: “How many tennis balls fit in a limo?”
Your response should be something like this: “I’m not sure exactly how many would fit into a vehicle as large as yours but I’ll take some measurements and get back to you after some research.”
The interviewer asked them how many tennis balls fit in a limo, then she walked away without answering the question.
The interviewer asked them how many tennis balls fit in a limo, then she walked away without answering the question.
This is a tricky interview question because it’s designed to see how you work under pressure and think on your feet. The interviewer wants to see if you can come up with an answer based on logic and reason rather than just guessing at random numbers or making something up that sounds good but isn’t true (like “a million”).
The candidate who said “1,000” was hired and another candidate who said “2” was not hired.
The candidate who said “1,000” was hired and another candidate who said “2” was not hired.
The interviewer was looking for someone who could think on their feet and creatively come up with an answer to the question. The interviewer didn’t want someone who would give a simple answer like 2 or 3 or 4, as these numbers are too low and would not show that you had thought about it enough to get creative with your answers.
She wanted to see how these applicants worked under pressure, why they gave certain answers and if they could think on their feet.
She wanted to see how these applicants worked under pressure, why they gave certain answers and if they could think on their feet.
She also wanted to see if they were creative problem solvers who could come up with an original solution to her riddle.
Takeaway:
- The takeaway from this story is that it’s always good to ask questions, even if you think they’re silly.
- You never know what kind of interesting information you might find out!
Conclusion
I hope that this article has helped you to understand how to answer the question “how many tennis balls fit in a limo?” If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below.
Answer ( 1 )
Have you ever been asked a question during an interview that made you scratch your head in confusion? We’ve all been there. But what if we told you that there’s one particular question that can test your analytical skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities? That’s right! The infamous interview question: “How many tennis balls fit in a limo?” may seem absurd at first glance, but it is designed to assess your thought process and approach to finding a solution. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the methods used by professionals to answer this tricky yet intriguing interview question. So buckle up and let’s dive into the world of creative problem-solving!
The 18-Wheeler Method
The 18-wheeler method is a popular technique used by interviewees to answer the “tennis balls in a limo” question. The idea behind this approach is to calculate the total volume of the limo and divide it by the volume of one tennis ball.
To begin with, you need to estimate the dimensions of an average limousine. Once you have these measurements, multiply them together to get an approximate volume. For instance, let’s assume that a limo measures 30 feet long, 6 feet wide, and 6 feet tall. So its overall volume would be around 1080 cubic feet.
Next, we need to determine how much space one tennis ball occupies inside our defined space. To do so, we must first calculate their average size using diameter or radius figures given online or through physical measurement tools.
Assuming that each tennis has an average diameter of about two inches (or roughly .17 cubic feet), we can now divide our calculated limousine volume (1080 cubic ft) by this figure to obtain our final answer: approximately six thousand three hundred fifty-four (6354) tennis balls could fit inside a standard-sized stretch limousine!
However! There are other methods too for calculating this intriguing query…
The Tank Method
The Tank Method is another approach that can be used to answer the infamous interview question, “How many tennis balls fit in a limo?” This method entails calculating the volume of a standard-sized tank and comparing it with the interior of the limousine.
Firstly, one should research and determine the average dimensions of a fuel tank for an automobile similar in size to a limousine. Once this has been established, calculate its overall capacity by using mathematical formulas such as V = πr²h or V=lwh.
Next, measure and calculate the length, width, and height of the interior space within a limo. Ensure to factor out any seats or objects that may obstruct this area.
Divide the total volume of both measurements (the tank’s volume divided by limo’s interior) to arrive at an estimated number of tennis balls that could fit inside.
While The Tank Method might not provide an exact answer due to various factors such as irregular shapes or internal components like seats, it offers an analytical approach to solving this problem creatively.
The School Bus Method
If you thought the 18-Wheeler Method and the Tank Method were intriguing, wait until you hear about The School Bus Method! This method involves estimating how many tennis balls can fit in a school bus and then using that number to calculate how many would fit in a limo.
First, we need to determine the volume of a standard school bus. According to Blue Bird Corporation, one of the leading manufacturers of buses in North America, their standard model has an interior volume of approximately 3,800 cubic feet.
Next, let’s assume that each tennis ball has a diameter of about 2.7 inches. Using some simple math (specifically calculating the volume of a sphere), we find that each tennis ball takes up roughly .008 cubic feet.
By dividing the total interior volume of the school bus by .008 cubic feet per ball, we can estimate that around 475,000 tennis balls could fit inside your average school bus.
Assuming that your typical limousine is somewhere around one-fifth or one-sixth the size of a school bus (and therefore taking up between 600-750 cubic feet), our answer comes out to about 75-93 thousand tennis balls!
While it may not be exact science with this method either – as there are variations in sizes for both vehicles and balls – it does provide us with another fun way to approach this tricky interview question!
The House Method
After exploring various methods of estimating how many tennis balls can fit in a limo, it’s clear that there are multiple strategies to approach this question. The House Method may not be the most scientific or precise method, but it certainly offers an entertaining and memorable way to solve the problem.
Regardless of which method is used, it’s important to remember that interviewers often use questions like these to assess a candidate’s problem-solving skills and ability to think critically under pressure. So while estimating the number of tennis balls that fit in a limo may seem like a trivial exercise, it could ultimately make all the difference in landing your dream job.
In conclusion (just kidding), whether you prefer the 18-Wheeler Method or the Tank Method or any other creative strategy for answering this tricky interview question, what really matters is showcasing your thought process and demonstrating your ability to tackle complex problems with ease.